Methods and compositions for treating and preventing laminitis, founder and overeating in an ungulate

Abstract

The present invention relates to the production and use of feed compositions useful in the treatment and prevention of laminitis, founder and overeating, particularly in horses and ponies. The feed composition may reduce the effects of carbohydrate overload whilst providing a controlled release of metabolizable energy to avoid excessive fermentation and lactic acid production in the hind gut. At the same time the feed composition can provide nutrition to the animal whilst avoiding overeating. The combination of controlled bulk and energy provides for a feed composition that can control the symptoms of excess energy sources in the gut which may manifest as laminitis and founder.

1 . An animal feed composition for the prevention or treatment of laminitis, founder or overeating in an ungulate animal, the composition comprising a graminaceous component, the graminaceous component having a slow release of energy and/or low energy density. 
     
     
         2 . The feed composition of  claim 1 , wherein the graminaceous component has a low concentration of soluble carbohydrates. 
     
     
         3 . The feed composition of  claim 1 , wherein the slow release of energy of the graminaceous component has a glycemic index of less than about 69 compared to oats. 
     
     
         4 . The feed composition of  claim 1 , wherein the energy density of the feed composition is less than about 10 MJ/kg. 
     
     
         5 . The feed composition of  claim 1 , wherein the graminaceous component is present in a proportion 20 to 100% greater than that of any other single type of non-graminaceous component. 
     
     
         6 . The feed composition of  claim 1 , wherein the graminaceous component is present in an amount of about 20 to 100% of the feed composition. 
     
     
         7 . The feed composition of  claim 6 , wherein the graminaceous is a perennial grass and the perennial grass is a member of the Tribe Andropogoneae, or a member of the Family Poaceae, or a member of the Genus  Saccharum , or a member of the Genus  Sorghum.    
     
     
         8 . The feed composition of  claim 6 , wherein the perennial grass is selected from the group consisting of Saccharum spontaneum, Saccharum robustum, Saccharum officinarum, Saccharum barberi, Saccharum sinense, Saccharum edule, Sorghum almum, Sorghum amplum, Sorghum angustum, Sorghum arundinaceum, Sorghum bicolour, Sorghum bicolor subsp. drummondii, Sorghum brachypodum, Sorghum bulbosum, Sorghum burmahicum, Sorghum controversum, Sorghum drummondii, Sorghum ecarinatum, Sorghum exstans, Sorghum grande, Sorghum halepense, Sorghum interjectum, Sorghum intrans, Sorghum laxiflorum, Sorghum leiocladum, Sorghum macrospermum, Sorghum matarankense, Sorghum miliaceum, Sorghum nigrum, Sorghum nitidum, Sorghum plumosum, Sorghum propinquum, Sorghum purpureosericeum, Sorghum stipoideum, Sorghum timorense, Sorghum trichocladum, Sorghum versicolor, Sorghum virgatum, and Sorghum vulgare 
     
     
         9 . The feed composition of  claim 1 , substantially devoid of a carbohydrate source selected from the group consisting of oats, lucerne, molasses, young hay (without seeds), wheat grains and seeds. 
     
     
         10 . A method for producing an animal feed composition for the prevention or treatment of laminitis, founder or overeating in an ungulate animal, the method comprising the step of adding a graminaceous component having a slow release of energy and/or low energy density to at least one other feed component. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the graminaceous component has a low concentration of soluble carbohydrates. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the slow release of energy of the graminaceous component has a glycaemic index of less than about 69 compared to oats. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of adding a non-graminaceous component. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the graminaceous component is added to a final proportion 20 to 100% greater than that of any other single type of non-graminaceous component. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the graminaceous component is added to a final proportion of 20 to 100% greater than that of the sum of all other types of non-graminaceous. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the graminaceous component is added such that the graminaceous component provides the largest source digestible energy in the feed composition. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the graminaceous component is added in an amount of between about 20 to 100% of the feed composition 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the graminaceous is a perennial grass, and the perennial grass is a member of the Tribe Andropogoneae, or a member of the Family Poaceae, or a member of the Genus  Saccharum , or a member of the Genus  Sorghum.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the perennial grass is selected from the group consisting of  Saccharum spontaneum, Saccharum robustum, Saccharum officinarum, Saccharum barberi, Saccharum sinense, Saccharum edule, Sorghum almum, Sorghum amplum, Sorghum angustum, Sorghum arundinaceum, Sorghum bicolour, Sorghum bicolor subsp. drummondii, Sorghum brachypodum, Sorghum bulbosum, Sorghum burmahicum, Sorghum controversum, Sorghum drummondii, Sorghum ecarinatum, Sorghum exstans, Sorghum grande, Sorghum halepense, Sorghum interjectum, Sorghum intrans, Sorghum laxiflorum, Sorghum leiocladum, Sorghum macrospermum, Sorghum matarankense, Sorghum miliaceum, Sorghum nigrum, Sorghum nitidum, Sorghum plumosum, Sorghum propinquum, Sorghum purpureosericeum, Sorghum stipoideum, Sorghum timorense, Sorghum trichocladum, Sorghum versicolor, Sorghum virgatum , and  Sorghum vulgare    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the animal feed composition is substantially devoid of a carbohydrate source selected from the group consisting of oats, lucerne, molasses, young hay (without seeds), wheat grains and seeds. 
     
     
         21 . A method of treating or preventing laminitis, founder or overeating in an ungulate animal, the method comprising administering to an ungulate animal in need thereof an effective amount of a feed composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the feed composition is a major source of nutrition for the ungulate. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the ungulate animal is a member of the Genus  Equus , or wherein the ungulate animal is of the species  Equus ferus caballus , or  Equus africanus asinus , or a hybrid offspring of these species.